The word “audit” strikes fear in the heart of many business owners because of its implication of wasted time, increased costs and possible penalties (i.g the IRS and your taxes). However, not all audits are fear-inducing investigations into finances. Energy audits can actually put some extra money in your pocket to offset the penalties for questionable deductions on that Cayman Islands business trip (j/k). But how do we go about running a commercial energy audit?

Wikipedia defines energy audit as: an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s).

Energy audit professionals will generally charge between $300 and $500 for a comprehensive assessment of your business.  But a few simple steps can make a significant difference for those willing to be meticulous and invest in infrastructure improvements instead. The first and most obvious culprits to look for are drafty windows or door gaps where heat can easily escape. Applying caulk, insulation or other patches can help.

But sometimes the problem is greater.  Standby power consumption also presents a hidden drain on energy. Unlike water, which we fully control through a faucet, electricity flows directly to plugged-in electronic devices and appliances whenever the devices need power.  Plugged-in appliances make up a surprisingly high share of office and home energy use today: 26% of office, 40% of home on average.  Plugged-in devices are the fastest-growing energy load in offices and homes. Fortunately, a simple hardware solution like the Modlet can eliminate standby power consumption anywhere it flows.

If a professional energy audit is still the best route, several organizations provide online tools to get you started. ENERGY STAR provides extensive energy efficiency resources for plants and buildings as well as the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick which provide a wealth of information about researching what options are available for greater energy savings. The organization also provides an Energy Rater locator tool for easy appointment setting with a recommended auditor.

After investing in e-waste removal, better insulation, sealing drafty windows and Modlet installation, you can rest easy knowing you work or live in an intelligent, energy efficient building or home. But you’ll still have to pay taxes.

Say hello to Modlet.

Designed for energy savings, the Modlet plugs directly into your existing wall outlet and monitors and controls the energy consumption of plugged-in devices. The Modlet’s built in brain allows it to wirelessly communicate with a PC through the USB receiver. ThinkEco’s web-based software allows you to view real-time energy consumption, set schedules for turning your devices off and on, and keep track of your savings!

Depending on the types of connected gear and the number of Modlets installed, you can expect to save approximately 10% off your electricity bill. When considering a large office with hundreds of electronics running continuously, this can mean significant savings to the bottom line.

So, after you set up a 4th Bin pickup to remove your old electronics, start enjoying an immediate savings by investing in a Modlet Office Starter Kit to go with your replacement gear. You will also feel good knowing that you’re reducing needless energy waste.

Need some extra convincing? Sustainable Industries named the Modlet a Top 10 Green Building Products 2011. 4th Bin staff use Modlets in our offices and homes and hope you will too.

-The 4th Bin Team

NY Company Recycles Electronic Waste

Tracey Samuelson from WNYC spent a day on the truck with the 4th Bin crew.  Read the full article.  The article’s slideshow is a nice visual representation of what happens to your stuff from the moment it leaves your hands, through 4th Bin’s process, out to our recycling partner and through their process.

John Kirsch is the executive too green for business cards.

Co-founder and senior vice president of business development for electronics recycling firm the 4th Bin, Kirsch let me tag along last week to the Cash for Trash product “upcycling” forum presented by Columbia University’s alumni association. The 4th Bin was collecting old electronics that attendees brought along for recycling. He was also on hand fielding inquiries from various people ranging from a banking representative there on behalf of a corporate client, a New Jersey municipality consultant, and a local worker tasked with disposing equipment for a city hospital.

John Kirsch (right), co-founder of the 4th Bin, fields questions from interested attendees at Columbia’s Cash for Trash event.

Kirsch spoke candidly with me about what differentiates the 4th Bin from myriad other electronics recyclers out there and why he doesn’t consider many of them to be “legit.” The key to legitimacy, according to Kirsch, is transparency with downstream partners. Many people don’t do much thinking about what happens to their recycling—or any waste for that matter—after it’s picked up/dropped off, but this is an important question. Without knowing a vendor’s downstream partners, your “recycled” electronics may very well end up in a landfill after all.

“The industry is a mess,” Kirsch told me, citing “a dirty, seedy side of e-waste” collection, with few of these firms publishing downstream partners and lax federal oversight. Basel Action Network is an international group Kirsch trusts for its oversight of e-waste initiatives.

Many of these “illegitimate” downstream partners are overseas exporters that pay a premium for old electronics. The problem with exporting this material is that there’s virtually no oversight of the process in the countries that actively pursue this material. Environmental regulations could be nonexistent, corrupted crime lords could be banking on the system, and most importantly to the 4th Bin, more work is being shipped overseas.

“Recycling is the perfect industry to create jobs,” Kirsch said.

I was surprised after hearing about all this that Kirsch wasn’t trying to vilify other recycling endeavors, but he really wants to draw attention to the benefits more ethical yet labor intensive processes that the 4th Bin employs can reap.

The ultimate recycling goal for Kirsch is for old electronics to be refurbished for new use. He admits that this does not account for a big portion of the 4th Bin’s work; he estimated about 2 percent of residential collection it does can be reused and 6-10 percent on the commercial side.

The 4th Bin’s station at the event, manned by Ari Baez, operations manager at the 4th Bin

Despite this low yield, the entire spectrum of the 4th Bin’s process sticks to extremely high ethical standards in which Kirsch and his partner Michael Deutsch take great pride.

Once collected, e-waste is either refurbished and resold to individuals that will likely resell the products on e-Bay; or equipment that can’t be refurbished is transferred to a downstream partner, such as WeRecycleor other local vendors.

Kirsch with some of his partners at WeRecycle.

A big red flag for consumers opposed to outsourcing is free pickup services for e-waste according to Kirsch. There are many not-so-obvious costs to run a business like the 4th Bin, including insurance, truck rental, logistics, warehouse, and any office space—Kirsch was required to have $5 million insurance coverage simply to get the collection bin into the building where the Columbia event was held.

The 4th Bin provides residential and commercial pick-up quotes depending on the number of items and what they are. Kirsch estimated an average residential pick-up charge in the $40 range and $300 for commercial, the latter of which is not up-charged based on size.

The nearly full bin of electronics collected for recycling at the Columbia alumni event.

With more and more state requirements for proper e-waste disposal and a federal mandate for government agencies to recycle e-waste just announced, the timing couldn’t be better to explore the pros and cons of e-waste management vendors.

Check out a slideshow of the 4th Bin in action here.

Originally posted on Residential Systems: http://www.residentialsystems.com/blog/72752.aspx

On Tuesday, March 27th, beginning at 5:30 p.m., 4th Bin will join a panel of sustainability experts to explore how doing good for the environment can also be good for your business. From upcycling waste and transforming it into fresh, new products to appropriately recycling garbage and avoiding the use of landfills, the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York’s (CBSAC/NY) Making Green from Green series, takes a close look at how we can all lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Led by moderator, Colin Beavan, PhD, the Executive Director of No Impact Project and author of the book No Impact Man, the “Cash for Trash” event will encourage conversation ranging from upcycling best practices to developing sustainability initiatives for your business. Directly following the panel, guests can also take part in raffles, meet with sustainability coaches and enjoy local, sustainable food prepared by biochef Ula Robertson, of At Your Service NY Catering.

Throughout the event, 4th Bin will be onsite to collect and responsibly recycle small surplus electronics including: laptops, cell phones, PDAs, printers, cartridges, digital cameras, cables, peripherals, household batteries and MP3 players.

As New York city business owners know, the 2010 NY State e-waste law was considered to be one of the most progressive electronics recycling laws in the country – which included the January 2012 disposal ban placed on businesses, big buildings (including apartments and condos), retailers and local governments – preventing the disposal of e-waste in the solid waste stream and requiring proper disposal of discarded electronics. As the leading provider of e-waste removal and recycling services, 4th Bin is proud to offer a simple, inexpensive way for both NYC residents and companies to recycle unwanted electronics.

And it’s all as easy as scheduling an appointment. 4th Bin offers door-to-door e-waste rescue and recycling solutions that require no minimum for pickup. Not only does 4th Bin ethically and responsibly recycle or reuse all equipment collected, but also strongly supports the standards set by the Basel Action Network (BAN) and e-Stewards Recycling Certification, by only working with e-steward certified recyclers.

“Cash for Trash” will be taking place at the PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP PwC Auditorium, located at 300 Madison Avenue and 42nd Street, and doors will open promptly at 5:30 p.m. for early networking. Reception to follow, beginning at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are available now, at varying price points for CBSAC Members, students and the outstanding community and can be purchased through the CBSAC here.

For more information on 4th Bin, or to schedule your pick e-waste up today, become a fan on Facebook or visit www.4thbin.com.

To quickly answer those questions:  1- the Dept of Sanitation is getting out of the e-waste business (see our page on the NYS legislation).  2 – Yes, other companies will do it for free or pay you for your stuff.  Sounds good, right?  But it’s not the right thing to do or the right way to handle your stuff.  See our post on this topic.

So, hopefully, our clients understand that there are costs to properly collect e-waste and leaves us helping to determine how our pricing stacks up.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say we’re competitively priced or less expensive than our competitors.  How do I know?  Well, here’s one example.  There’s a large, well-known building management company in the city who charges their tenants to remove e-waste.  Oddly enough, they charge their tenants and then expect their e-waste vendor to pay them for the materials or take it for free.  We know this because that’s the answer we received when they contacted us to collect their e-waste and we quoted a price.  Speaks volume, I say.

Anyway, here’s their price list:

At a minimum, their charges are 30% above what 4th Bin charges.  In many cases, it’s more than double.  With at least one item, it’s just criminal ($11 per keyboard? Really??).

Yes – we’re running a business and need to make money (we have bills to pay, too).  But we’re not in it to rip off our customers.  Not everyone can afford our services – we understand that.  But when you contact 4th Bin for a quote, remember to refer back to the price list you see above and compare us to what you could be paying elsewhere.

-Michael

We at the 4th Bin talk a lot about what differentiates us from our competitors especially from an ethical, educational, and cultural prespective. Below is an exciting e-waste sustainability program we developed with R/GA, a world renowned design agency headquartered in New York City, that truly walks the walk when it comes to electronics recycling both at the office and at home.  The event was launched to better educate R/GA employees on the hazards of e-waste and the ecological impact it has on our environment.  The event also became the catalyst to launch an ongoing program whereby R/GA employees receive door-to-door e-waste pickups.

For a full slideshow of the event, please visit our Google+ Page.

Situation Analysis: In 2009, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency an estimated 2.37 million tons of unwanted electronics were thrown away in the United States. Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, causes serious health and pollution issues if it enters the regular waste stream. Companies and consumers continuously upgrade their electronics and responsibly recycling outdated and unused electronics is a major step in alleviating the harms of irresponsible electronic waste management.

Realizing the domestic environmental issue and the opportunity to recycle electronic waste at a local level, R/GA teamed up with the 4th Bin for an e-cycling drive.

Who:

1. The 4th Bin is the only electronic waste collection and recycling company in New York City specializing in proper e-waste recycling. It provides door-to-door collection services to residential and corporate locations including offices, schools, hospitals, factories, and residences. Michael Deutsch and John Kirsch began The 4th Bin mission in 2009. Since its conception, the company disposed of approximately 1,000,000 pounds of e-waste.

2. R/GA is a full service agency that transforms the way people interact with brands. A commitment to design, technology, strategy, and innovation defines R/GA’s continuing legacy as an iconoclast in the world of communications and marketing.

Founded in 1977 by Bob and Richard Greenberg in New York City, the agency has grown to eight offices on four continents, with locations in Chicago, London, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. As a global brand, R/GA strives to serve as a strong example for environmentally sustainable practices the world over.

What:

In late 2011, R/GA teamed up with The 4th Bin to hold an e-cycling event on the R/GA NYC campus. The event was supported by a humorous campaign, built and designed by R/GA, called R.I.P, “Recycle In Peace,” and encouraged agency employees to “send their electronics to a better place” by properly recycling them with The 4th Bin. To incentivize action, participating employees were automatically entered in a raffle to win a one-year 50GB iCloud storage account.

On November 8th, 2011, The 4th Bin and R/GA held a recycling drive, collecting unused electronics outside of the R/GA NYC office. The agency support for the program was so strong that the engagement was extended by two weeks. R/GAers helped amass over 1,000 pounds (and to continuing to grow) in electronic equipment for donation and recycling.

Why:

The 4th Bin and R/GA share a vision of creating a strong commitment within their communities to environmental sustainability. In the United States, only 20 percent of the 400 million electronic items disposed of each year are properly recycled. These contents of the recycled products can be reused or used to make new products.

The 4th Bin and R/GA recognize the magnitude of the worldwide problem and saw an opportunity to strengthen R/GA’s commitment to furthering these recycling efforts by implementing the internal e-cycling program.

Results:

The e-waste recycling was a great success, bringing in over 1,000lbs of electronic waste to be either properly disposed of or refurbished for various purposes including resale, fundraising and artistic creation. 4th Bin Co-founder and Senior VP of Business Development, John Kirsch, summed up the experience saying, “I believe the event was extremely successful from an educational and sustainability perspective highlighting the complex issue of e-waste. The R/GA team was able bring in a responsible e-waste option [4th Bin] thus integrating an ethical collection solution not only for their office, but for their employee homes as well. We were impressed with R/GA’s dedication to help develop and create this unique system with 4th Bin; we think it is a perfect model for companies of all sizes.”

]]> http://www.4thbin.com/2012/03/4th-bin-rga-nyc-ewaste-drive-1000-pound/feed/ 1 http://www.4thbin.com/2012/02/03-27-event-cash-for-trash/ http://www.4thbin.com/2012/02/03-27-event-cash-for-trash/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:20:50 +0000 John http://www.4thbin.com/?p=1573 Continue reading →]]>

Cash For Trash

What if “waste” were a thing of the past? Companies are finding clever ways to convert their waste streams into resources.

Upcycling waste to new products. Recycling garbage so it doesn’t end up in landfills. Our panel will explore opportunities and challenges of getting cash for trash and tell us how doing good for the environment is also good business. It is a dirty tale, with a clean outcome.

Date Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Time

•  5:30-6:00pm Doors Open and Early Networking
•  6:00 – 7:30pm Program
•  7:30 – 9:00pm Reception and Networking

Location PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP 300 Madison Avenue, PwC Auditorium SW Corner of 42nd Street

Cost $25 for CBSACNY Members, MCC Members, NYBSC Members & Students and for the Columbia Venture Community;  $40 for non-members; $60 at the door. Includes networking reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres

We were inspired by Apple Inc. when, as part of their effort for greater transparency, they listed their “Supplier Responsibility Report”.  This report was released as a result of recent negative media regarding their main supplier’s worker conditions (you can read it here).  The report is a a fascinating and insightful look into the company’s global culture.  It spans such diverse topics as COC’s, Auditing, Education and Development and, most interestingly, Supplier Responsibility Reports.  We applaud Apple for providing these reports and actually putting themselves “out there”.  While Apple is by no means a perfect company, the publishing of these documents demonstrates that they are serious about openness and corporate responsibility.

Transparency at 4^th Bin

When it comes to openness and corporate responsibility, we feel very much the same way as Apple.  Our customers SHOULD KNOW who 4th Bin contracts and the vendors who ultimately handle their e-waste are after it leaves their home or office.  Granted, 4th Bin isn’t even in the same stratosphere of economic activity as Apple (other than Google, Facebook and the large banks, who is?).  But Apple is setting a good example and, obviously, we share the same belief that transparency is necessary.

Transparency in the E-waste Industry

We can say with full confidence that our competitors will not be so transparent.  We call it “selective transparency”, at the very least.   If you ask most companies  who collect e-waste in NYC (whether it is direct door-to-door, mail back, retail drop-off point or e-waste event) to fully disclose their downstream (industry-speak for where their stuff really goes…), we guarantee they will not do so.  Or disclose what their main business really is, they will not.  For example many companies now pose as legitimate e-waste collectors and recyclers, but are actually a regional scrap company.  Sure…you’ll get some answers.  And some of those answers will sound great.  But it may not be the complete answer.  And what they’re leaving out is the concerning part .

Our List

So, with that, we would like to list all 4th Bin vendors and partners (we have no suppliers per se) and their locations and industry.

Apple Inc.- Technology
Cupertino, CA
Avenue X Group- IT Consulting
New York, NY
AW Systems- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Broadway Green Alliance- Facilities Consultants
New York, NY
Caster Communications- Public Relations
Wakefield, RI
Call 2 Recycle- Battery Recycling
Atlanta, GA
CC Rentals-Trucking
New York, NY, NJ
Control Group Inc.- IT Management, Application Development
New York, NY
Crexendo Inc.- SEO Consulting
Tempe, AZ
Cumulus Global- Cloud Computing, Google Apps Consultants
Westborough, MA
Cyber City Inc.- IT Consulting
New York, NY
City Iron- Metal Management
New York, NY
ExchangeMyPhone- Mobile Phone Recycling
Brooklyn, NY
Facebook Inc.- Software
Palo Alto, CA
Google Inc.- Technology
Mountain View, CA
Help With a Smile- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Ivan Experts- Apple Consultants
New York, NY
Manhattan Mini Storage-Storage
New York, NY
Marathon-, IT Consulting
Brooklyn, NY
Macktez- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Microsoft Inc. - Technology
Redmond, WA
Mouse and Men- IT Consulting
New York, NY
NETtech- IT Repair and Sales
New York, NY
POINT- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Ramp Up Technology- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Salesforce Inc.- CRM Cloud Computing
San Francisco, CA
Sinu- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Starlight Media- IT Consulting
New York, NY
Sprint PCS- Telecommunications
Overland Park, KS
Square- Technology
San Francisco, CA
Twitter Inc.- Technology
San Francisco, CA
Uhaul Inc.-Trucking
New York, NY
Valiant Technology- IT Consulting, Application Development
New York, NY
Vertical Response- Software
San Francisco, CA
WeRecycle! - E-Steward Electronic Recyclers
Mount Vernon, NY